Ocala Style | April 2024

Adventure the Issue

352.804.8989

3-bedroom,

Joan Pletcher, Realtor

Our results speak for themselves.

List with Joan today!

The Lakes

Lady Lake and has beautiful mature landscaping. Inside,

are vaulted ceilings, natural light and luxury finishes. The living area opens to the family room, dining area and chef’s kitchen, which is equipped with custom-built cabinets and a large center island for entertaining. A flex space is currently being used as an office/exercise area. The primary suite offers a sitting area and spacious bath. The back screen enclosed porch allows for relaxation and beautiful views of the golf course. The roof and A/C were both updated in 2022.

State-of-the-art equestrian facility

$449,000

Located 20 miles from the World Equestrian Center, this 54-acre property has it all. The 5-bedroom, 5-bath main residence overlooks the in-ground pool, spa and tennis court. There are two private 1/1 guest quarters and a detached 4-car garage. One barn has 17 stalls, wash stalls, two baths and upstairs lounge. The second barn has six stalls, a tack feed room, a bath and apartment. A third barn offers five show stalls. Foaling barn and a covered round pen. An oversized covered arena has professional footing, irrigation and light for night riding. The outdoor arena is 130-feet by 230-feet. The equipment building is perfect for large RVs, trailers and equipment. Lots of room to ride, train and raise horses. $3,975,000

Perfect property for equestrians

This

2-bath home overlooks the golf course in

of

there

This beautiful 20+/- acre property is between Ocala and Gainesville. It is ready for you to lay out your dream house and farm. There are lots of trees and lush green pastures, perfect for any discipline of equestrian. The property sits high dry and is partially fenced. $550,000

Luxury Country Club of Ocala Living at its finest. This magnificent custom home overlooks the seventh fairway and is surrounded by lush landscaping. The home features a fabulous chef’s kitchen, four bedrooms, four full and two half bathrooms, an exercise room, a man cave, dual offices and a mud room. Enjoy relaxing in the great pool with a large, screen enclosed lanai, brick pavers and an amazing outdoor fireplace. Full house generator. New roof in 2023. $1,595,000

10.84+/- acres in northwest Ocala. Majestic oaks provide gorgeous views and shade. The custom-built 3-bedroom, 3-bath home offers formal living and dining areas overlooking the pool and views of the farm. The screen-enclosed pool, covered lanai and summer kitchen are perfect for entertaining. There is a charming 2/2 guest apt. and the kitchen-family room features large sliding glass doors that provide a pathway to the center aisle 6-stall barn. There are three RV hookups, a 60-foot diameter round pen and 20m by 40m dressage arena. Six miles from the World Equestrian Center and 10 minutes from the Ocala International airport. The property adjoins an additional 13+ acres also available for sale.

$1,898,000

Pecan Hill Farm

*Access to Florida Greenways and Trails

*Across from Florida Horse Park

*Equine Friendly Neighborhood

*Deed Restricted Neighborhood

Lot

*Bridle Trails inside Via Paradisus

Via Paradisus

Drive into the scenic NW Ocala area and you will find beautiful country living-perfect for equine or cattle enthusiasts. Consider this unique 38+/- acre property on Hwy. 326. Just minutes to WEC and HITS. Beautiful vistas from every view, lush pastures with impressive granddaddy oaks, and mature landscaping. Main residence encompasses 4-bedrooms, 3.5-baths, open kitchen, spacious living room with impressive stone fireplace and built-in bookcases. The family room offers access to screen enclosed lanai and pool area while overlooking lush green pastures. Enjoy the grand owner’s bedroom with luxurious bath and expansive closet, plus 3 more bedrooms, and private office. The equine facilities include a 12-stall stable with tack room, feed room, wash bay and 1/1 apartment. The second story allows for hay storage. Covered parking on each side of barn for horse trailer and other items of your choice. Large 3-bay equipment building with workshop plus RV hook-up. Genuinely nice 4-bedroom 2-bath residence for your farm manager and family. The lush fields are perfect for grazing your horses or cattle with just the right number of scattered oaks for shade and a tranquil setting. $4,150,000

Via Paradisus is a gated community graced with beautiful granddaddy oaks, paved streets, street lighting and access to the Florida Greenways and Trails. It is located close to the Florida Horse Park. This is a deed-restricted and equine-friendly community. There are plenty of paved streets for walking, biking or riding. Bring your plans and build the dream home or farm of your choice. Florida’s Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway is one of the most treasured resources in the state. Offering hundreds of miles for horseback riding, mountain biking, or just plain relaxing, the Florida Greenway awaits your adventure.

$3,950,000

This Ocala horse farm is very private and desirable! Drive into the scenic NW Ocala area and you will find beautiful country living-perfect for equine or cattle enthusiasts. Consider this unique 38+/- acre property on Hwy. 326. Just minutes to WEC and HITS. Beautiful vistas from every view, lush pastures with impressive granddaddy oaks, and mature landscaping. Main residence encompasses 4-bedrooms, 3.5-baths, open kitchen, spacious living room with impressive stone fireplace and built-in bookcases. The family room offers access to screen enclosed lanai and pool area while overlooking lush green pastures. Enjoy the grand owner’s bedroom with luxurious bath and expansive closet, plus 3 more bedrooms, and private office. The equine facilities include a 12-stall stable with tack room, feed room, wash bay and 1/1 apartment. The second story allows for hay storage. Covered parking on each side of barn for horse trailer and other items of your choice. Large 3-bay equipment building with workshop plus RV hook-up. Genuinely nice 4-bedroom 2-bath residence for your farm manager and family. The lush fields are perfect for grazing your horses or cattle with just the right number of scattered oaks for shade and a tranquil setting.

What should you expect working with Joan Pletcher?

Expect an unparalleled combination of professionalism, integrity and relentless commitment to her client’s unique needs, interests, and desires.

Joan is a residential, equine property and land development REALTOR® since 1985 and a horsewoman herself so her clients have the benefit of experience and specialized expertise.

10/25/2023

“The Ocala region is home to the most beautiful equestrian estates and horse farms in the United States and the natural beauty of the area, along with an amazing variety of equine-centered activities and venues, such as the phenomenal World Equestrian Center, makes this a place that more and more people want to call home,” says Joan.

of equine-centered activities and venues, such as the phenomenal new World Equestrian Center, makes this a place that more and more people want to call home,” says Joan.

Call or Text: 352.266.9100 | 352.804.8989 | joan@joanpletcher.com | joanpletcher.com

10.09 Acres

10.02 Acres

Dear Readers,

hat is your sense of adventure?

I love to travel and explore new places, including eateries and places that showcase carefully crafted libations.

For some, though, “adventure” means sometimes taking risks or doing things that might even be frightening to others. Like when editor Susan Smiley-Height went skydiving. That is not for me—and I was afraid for her. But I’m certainly up for other fun things to do, such as when she and I did a clear kayak tour at our beautiful Silver Springs State Park, where we saw some of the infamous Rhesus monkeys and other abundant wildlife.

Whatever your sense of adventure calls for, you might just find it nearby as Ocala and Marion County abound in fun and exciting things to do. From horseback riding to ziplining to biking and hiking, there are ample local opportunities to get out and explore and enjoy our wonderful community, and we have a list in this issue to get you going.

We also share how a group of volunteers has revived the beloved waterfalls at Rainbow Springs State Park, which can make for a great trek out in nature as you navigate the trails inside the stunning park, which also offers swimming, kayaking/canoeing and inner tube float trips downriver.

We offer a day trip to Dunedin, a hidden gem on Florida’s southwest coast, and professional angler Jill Paglia shares some recipes using the blackfin tuna she catches in the Florida Keys.

Columnist Scott Mitchell remembers the famed Ross Allen, whose reptile shows were definitely hair-raising back in the day; Belea Keeney tells you how you can be part of the Pollinator Census by counting bugs in your own backyard and our resident humorist Dave Schlenker talks about all there is to love about living in Slowcala.

From ooh-aah beauty moments to screaming out loud excitement, you can find adventure right here at home. And I’m all in for most of the adventures—but I’m not jumping out of any airplanes!

Jennifer Hunt Murty Publisher

Bruce

Lisa

Scott

38

43

The

28 RESTORING

Rainbow Springs’ beloved water features flow once more.

34 DRIVEABLE

Dunedin is a Florida gem that sparkles with possibilities.

54 COUNT

56 REMEMBERING

62

REHABILITATION

Top, by

Middle, Courtesy of Visit

Florida; bottom, by alan youngblood

Head to El Toreo for the best Mexican food this side of the border! Enjoy all of your favorite traditional Mexican dishes in a friendly and festive atmosphere.

Specials:

Mondays and Wednesdays, Margaritas are $2 Saturdays, 2 for 1 Margaritas All Day

El Toreo

3790 E Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala (352) 694-1401 › 7 days 11a-10p

SR 200, Ocala (352) 291-2121 › 7 days 11a-11p

Baked Stuffed Shrimp

Located in the heart of downtown Ocala, Harry’s offers traditional Louisiana favorites like Shrimp and Scallop Orleans, Crawfish Etouffée, Jambalaya, Shrimp Creole, Blackened Red Fish and Louisiana Gumbo. Other favorites, like French Baked Scallops and Bourbon Street Salmon, are complemented with grilled steaks, chicken, burgers, po’ boy sandwiches and salads. Their full bar features Harry’s Signature Cocktails, such as the Harry’s Hurricane, Bayou Bloody Mary or the Cool Goose Martini. They also feature wines by the glass and a wide selection of imported, domestic and craft beer.

Harry’s Seafood

Bar & Grille

24 SE 1st Avenue, Ocala (352) 840-0900 › hookedonharrys.com

Mon-Thu 11a-9p › Fri & Sat 11a-10p › Sun 11a-8p

Happy Hour Specials:

2-7p every day

$4 Draft Beer

$5 House Wine & Premium Cocktails

$6 Super Premium & $7 Harry’s Signature Cocktails

INSIDER

Social Scene

Photo

Bruce Ackerman

by

Devon Chestnut, Crystal Fernung, Patricia Sutton and Carla Lord were among the attendees at the annual Voices of Pace Luncheon held February 22nd at the College of Central Florida’s Klein Center. The event was a fundraiser for Pace Marion, which offers academic and counseling services for young women.

Voices of Pace Luncheon

COLLEGE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

The Pace Marion fundraising event on February 22nd featured compelling stories from young women helped by the nonprofit organization, which offers academic and counseling services to help participants become strong, compassionate and successful women.

Ben Marciano, Kevin Sheilley, Virgil Robinson, David Moore, Stacy Youmans and Guisela Carrascosa

Beth McCall, Jaye Baillie and Karen Hatch

Craig Curry and Mounir Bouyounes

Judy Green, Laura Byrnes and Carole Savage-Hagans

Marion Rotary Duck Derby

TUSCAWILLA PARK

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

The fundraising event on February 19th saw 5,000 rubber ducks bobbing in the waters of Lake Tuscawilla. People could “adopt” a duck for a fee, with the funds to benefit the city of Ocala’s Discovery Center, which is a family-friendly science center with an interactive learning environment.

Connie Brown, Terry Dowless and Mary Driscoll

Al Formella, Bill Mess, Frank Rasbury, Tim Dean and Richard Howard Sr.

Noelle Dale and Gary Dale

Alize, Aubriella and Kayla Walker

Rex Lanctot, Emma Belle Lanctot, Kylee Voisine and Allison Lanctot

Avery Baumgartner, Crystal McCaffrey, Alexis McCaffrey, Darrell Reahl and Brandon Reahl

VOCAL Furball

WORLD EQUESTRIAN CENTER

Photos by Maven Photo + Film

The Voices of Change Animal League gala on February 23rd included a red-carpet entrance, a puppy Cuddle Lounge and a live auction. The event raised money for the nonprofit, which works to solve the homeless pet problem through prevention, community outreach, adoption and collaboration.

Amy Ditty, Drew Ditty and Lauren Carpenter

Michele Caspari and Kindel Stephens

Lauren Carpenter, Bernadette Castro, Linda Norman and Kate Rengel

Pat Myers and Dan Eckhard In the Cuddle Lounge

Black History Awards Gala

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

Nine people were inducted into the Howard Academy Community Center Black History Museum Archives on February 23rd. About 250 guests attended the second annual gala, which honored the inductees as leaders who made a difference in the community.

MARY SUE RICH COMMUNITY CENTER AT REED PLACE

Adjahnae Vereen Piner and Davida Randolph

Ire Bethea, Yvonne Hinson and Eric Cummings

Theresa Brooks and Lena Hopkins Smith

Scott Hackmyer

Winsome Jacobs

Inspire Gala

HILTON OCALA

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

Hundreds of people gathered for the second annual Inspire Gala, held March 1st to celebrate philanthropy and community service in Marion County. The event was hosted by the Community Foundation Ocala/Marion County.

Stephen Petty, Joan Petty, Grace Dunlevy and Bob Levinson

Anthony Sheffield, Alanna Sheffield and Robert Tyler

Aubryn Barnes and Chris Hickman

Frank and Angela DeLuca

Ashley Gerds and Lauren Deiorio

Night at the Farm

CF VINTAGE FARM

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

The CF Foundation hosted its annual gala on March 2nd, with the theme of Strings, Wine and Bites. The evening included food, entertainment and networking, all to benefit the foundation’s mission of providing scholarship opportunities for students at the College of Central Florida.

Juliana Henningsen, Jeanne Henningsen and Linda Durrance Sue and Don Taylor

Michele Duff y, Anne Wagoner, Wally Wagoner, Becky Drake and Jim Drake

Jim Henningsen and Michelle Stone Craig and Melissa Cushenbery

International Women’s Day Celebration

COLLEGE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

The event hosted by Ollin Women International on March 8th honored Tania Bartolini, Janet Behnke, Sandra Edwards Champ, Yvonne Hayes Hinson, Lena Hopkins, Marianne Howanitz, Judy Johnson, Susan S. King, LeeAnn MackeyBarnes, Sonya Nasser, Pamela Olsen, Sarah Ritterhoff Williams and Tara Woods.

Sonya Nasser and Mary DeLancey

Lena Hopkins Smith and Janet Behnke

Barbara Fitos, Brenda Vereen, Thelma Edwards and Manal Fakhoury

Shirley Wright, Sandra Edwards-Champ, June Dailey and Glendina Mackey

Kay Bogolin, Carol Schlaepfer and Amy Alvarado

Live Oak International

LIVE OAK STUD

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

From March 14 to 17, the Horse Capital of the World showcased international combined driving teams and show jumping individuals during the 33rd annual Live Oak International. The event featured national championship competitions, a special VIP party and even a food truck competition.

Valentina Socarras and Paula Gonzalez

Taylor Bloom and Tyler Lopez

Marcia Yeager, Gary Yeager, Ethan Yeager and Denise Hinder

Sandra, Tahlia, Adam, Elyza and Lydia Bretchneider

Abigail McArdle, Gabriela Reutter and Isabella Norton

Editor’s Picks

A guide to our favorite monthly happenings

and can’t-miss events

LEVITT AMP OCALA MUSIC SERIES

Webb Field/Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Complex

April 5, 12, 19 and 26

The series, sponsored in part by the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, offers 10 free, family-friendly, outdoor concerts to the public. The goal is to inject new life into underused public spaces. The concerts offer a broad array of music genres and cultural programming. To learn more, go to ocalafl.gov/levittamp

FREE FIRST SATURDAY

Appleton Museum of Art

April 6

Entry to the museum is free for all patrons on the first Saturday of each month. As part of the program for April, Martha Strawn will lead a tour of her photographic exhibit “Across the Threshold of India.” Learn more

by visiting appletonmuseum.org

CF INTERNATIONAL FILM SERIES

Appleton Museum of Art and the College of Central Florida

April 9

The Ira Holmes International Film Series at the College of Central Florida ends with the film Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom at 2pm at the museum (free for museum and film series members; admission fee for others) and for free at 7pm at the college. Learn more at cf.edu/filmseries

STEELN’ PEACHES

Reilly Arts Center

April 12

Experience the ultimate Allman Brothers tribute band. Tickets are $20 to $55. To purchase, go to reillyartscenter.com

Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series, photo by Bruce Ackerman

Davina and the Vagabonds

PROGRAMS IN THE PARK-OWLS & BATS NIGHT FLIGHT

Heritage Nature Conservancy

April 13

You will get a chance to experience the bats fl ying out from the bat house as park rangers share interesting facts about the nocturnal world of bats and owls. Learn more at bit.ly/ocala-park-programs

FARMLAND PRESERVATION FESTIVAL

Majestic Oaks, 17500 N U.S. Highway 441, Reddick

April 13

The 16th annual event will include a farmer’s market, traditional farm and cottage crafts, farm animals, a petting zoo, hayrides and the popular horse and tractor parade. There will be live entertainment and food concessions. The event is organized by the nonprofit Save Our Rural Areas (SORA), which opposes urban sprawl on farmland, especially within the county’s designated Farmland Preservation Area. Admission is free; $5 for parking. To learn more, go to farmlandfestival.org

MELODIOUS ACCORD

Reilly Art Center

April 14

The Ocala Symphony Orchestra Chorus presents a concert of choral Americana, featuring arrangements of shaped-note tunes by Alice Parker, original works by Stephen Paulus, Randall Thompson and spirituals. Tickets are $15 to $40 at reillyartscenter.com

TRAVIS LEDOYT: SUN THE STARS CONCERT

Reilly Arts Center

April 19

Ledoyt has been dubbed “The World’s Best Young Elvis” by many who knew “The King” personally. See him live in concert, performing songs by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and others. Visit bit.ly/ledoyts-sun-stars-tour for more information and for tickets.

EARTHFEST: CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY

Tuscawilla Park

April 20

Celebrate with tree giveaways, a youth fi shing derby, rock wall climbing, ecofriendly vendors and live music. Learn more at bit.ly/ocala-earthfest

HISTORIC

OCALA PRESERVATION SOCIETY WALKING TOUR

Start at 712 E. Fort King St., Ocala

April 27

Walk through time with HOPS in a tour that will take you through six historic homes in Ocala’s Southeast Historic District, starting at the Bryant House. Tickets are available at bit.ly/a-walk-through-time

JIMMY BUFFETT’S ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE BLOCK PARTY

Downtown Ocala

April 28

Visit downtown for changes in latitude and att itude as the Ocala Civic Theatre presents this block party. General admission tickets are $60. VIP tickets are $85 and include a front row section for the concert, separate bar and restrooms, and a special VIP location. Purchase tickets over the phone at (352) 236-2274, at the box offi ce or at ocalacivictheatre.com

VOWS Celebrate...

Pictured: Maria & Jeff Mancauskas

Ocala’s brides and grooms, get a glimpse into their most special of days and hear firsthand about the memories that will always hold a place in their hearts.

MARIA (JONES) & JEFF MANCAUSKAS

January 13th, 2024

Venue: The Carriage House at Vedder Farms

Photography: Eighteenth Hour Photography

Wedding planner: Making It Matthews

Bridal party florist: The Graceful Gardener

Decor florist: Making It Matthews

Hair/makeup: Rustic Roots

Her favorite memory: “I have been a wedding planner, coordinator and designer for three years with Making It Matthews. I wasn’t sure if my coordinator instincts would turn off and allow me to be the bride. As the doors opened and I saw the love of my life smiling at me, all the anticipation melted away. I couldn’t have imagined how that perfect moment felt until I became the bride, knowing I was stepping into forever with my best friend. It was a perfect once-in-a-lifetime moment.”

Venue: Grass Campers Event Venue

Photographer: Inspired Photography & Design

Wedding planner and florist: Katie Mosley

Hair: Angelica Woodside

Her favorite memory: “Our first dance. We chose the song I’m Gonna Love the Hell Out of You by Lewis Capaldi because it truly fit us and our relationship so well. To share this dance together as husband and wife was such a treasure.”

His favorite memory: “The ride to the field to get our pictures taken after the ceremony, sharing that time together as husband and wife discussing our future and our plans.”

October 20th, 2023

The Garden Villa Gilley Photography

Their favorite wedding memory: “We snuck away from the hustle and bustle that morning to spend a few quiet moments together and exchange letters. The weather was lovely, the golden leaves falling from the trees around us as we talked about the future. It was the perfect foundation to a wonderful day; a beautiful calm in which to begin our lives together.”

MIKALIA & ANDREW GRIM

4WD Adventure

Twenty two-person teams will tackle off-road park trails in this year’s Florida Trail Team Challenge.

By Susan Smiley-Height | Photos by Tiffany Chavez

For adventurous four-wheel vehicle drivers, the Florida Trail Team Challenge might be a bucket list item.

The off-road endurance challenge features two-person teams who accumulate points by competing in various events, such as precision off-road driving, vehicle recovery, marksmanship, medical aid, survival and mechanical repair. This year’s challenge will take place October 25th-27th at the Ol’ Florida Off-Road Park in Tavares, east of Leesburg in Lake County, which shares a border

with our own Marion County.

The challenge website notes that the event will include 20 teams of a driver and co-driver, age 18 or older. The four-wheel drive vehicle may be any make or model and drivers must be licensed, have current valid registration, insurance and be DOT approved. The rather interesting list of required equipment includes items such as a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, winch, tree rescue shackles, pulley block, whistle, farm-style jack and a CB or VHF radio. Competitors must be self-contained

for the entire event, meaning they have to bring all items needed to camp and compete. The registration fee is 500$ per team.

The Ol’ Florida Off-Road Park site notes that it offers “from beginner trails to off camber trails, to ‘what were we thinking’ trails.”

The challenge participants are asked to exemplify the principles of Tread Lightly, which advocates for traveling responsibly, respecting the rights of others, educating yourself, avoiding sensitive areas and doing your part. This means exhibiting conduct such as staying on designated roads and trails, being cognizant of private property, obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies and leaving the area better than you found it.

During the challenge, a Tread Lightly Master Trainer will be on site to participate in hosting challenges as well as to see the Tread Lightly principles in action as the competitors also are tasked with collecting trash they find on the trails for additional points.

The challenge website notes that, “In years past, the competitors and volunteers tell us they learned a lot about off-roading during the event, perhaps a new way to solve a problem during a challenge or that there are many ways to problem solve during a challenge. At the end of the event, everyone is mostly dirty, sweaty, happy and filled with a sense of accomplishment at the challenges they have faced head-on!”

To learn more, go to floridatrailteamchallenge.com and treadlightly.org

Restoring the Waterfalls

The beloved manmade water features at Rainbow Springs State Park have been given new life through the efforts of a small but devoted group of volunteers.

By Susan Smiley-Height | Photography by Bruce Ackerman

Waterfalls provide some of nature’s most pleasing sights and sounds. But sometimes, a manmade waterfall needs a friend—make that a Friend.

The Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park have made it their mission to restore the Rainbow, Seminole and Aviary waterfalls inside one of the most unique and gorgeous parks in Florida. It has been a labor of love for the volunteer group, whose numbers were seriously decimated during the pandemic.

Now, visitors to the park need only pass through the headsprings entrance pavilion and turn to the left to ascend at slight angles through massive and, in spring, glorious banks of old growth azaleas in shades of salmon, white, deep purple and fuchsia, to wend one’s way to the flow of water falling smoothly over stones and deep emerald moss in the storied trio of waterfalls.

Here, you can leave behind highway noises and relax in the lap of nature as you take in the birdsong, gentle breezes, filtered sunlight and that lovely, soothing sound of running water.

What you will find today is a far cry from the “attraction” of yesteryear, which included a rodeo, a small zoo and several boat rides, including sub-boats with stairs that went below the waterline so visitors could look out at eye level.

“If you are looking for a beautiful park, you will find it at Rainbow Springs State Park,” states Park Manager Kathleen Kelso. “Once a privately owned roadside attraction, Rainbow Springs State Park offers many enjoyable outdoor opportunities including jogging the trails,

meditating by a peaceful waterfall or admiring the lovely flowers. Rainbow Springs contains the fourth largest first-magnitude spring in Florida, pumping more than 65 million gallons of water a day. The park also offers a glimpse into the early Paleo-Indian history of the area and a habitat that supports an impressive range of imperiled species.”

Rainbow Springs State Park was acquired in 1990 with funds from the Conservation and Recreational Lands program. The park spans 1,694 acres and annually hosts around 330,000 visitors from around the world. The crystal-clear Rainbow River flows from the headsprings and travels for nearly six miles until it merges with the Withlachoocee River, which is dark with tannins.

The Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park, Inc. (FORS), promotes the park and assists in the Florida Park Service’s mission of providing resource-based recreation while preserving, interpreting and restoring natural and cultural resources. The volunteer effort at the park began in 1990, following the purchase of the former commercial attraction, notes FORS Vice President Stasha McKnight.

“Volunteers cleared the old gardens of more than 15 years of debris, weeds and exotic plant growth, uncovering walkways throughout the park area,” McKnight shares. “They also did repairs to make facilities usable and bring life back to the gardens and other features. In 1992,

the volunteers were allowed to open the park on weekends. By 1993, state funding allowed for park staff to join the volunteers. On March 9, 1995, the Florida Park Service opened Rainbow Springs State Park to the public on a full-time basis.”

McKnight says the park’s waterfalls, which date back to the 1930’s, were inoperable for about three years until the FORS group decided to restore them.

“The state was going to help us pay for the waterfalls, but the hurricanes hit, so those funds were redirected,” she explains. “So, we are using money raised from the gift shop, FORS memberships and donations to get the waterfalls fixed. The project will cost around $100,000. And we still have some issues to take care of, such as some of the ponds need to be sealed, and general repairs, along with the cost to maintain the waterfalls for generations to come.”

McKnight offers some insight into the origins of the three waterfalls, which are powered by pumps that draw water from the river and sends it through holding ponds before it cascades down the elevations and back into the basin below.

“Rainbow Falls is Florida’s highest manmade waterfall cascade at 60 feet. There was a grand opening on March 14th, 1937,” she shares. “The celebration included a Timucuan Indian Pageant with a Sun Dance and Water God ritual and there was a water carnival with a movie mermaid revue,

exhibition swimming, fancy diving by Newt Perry’s aquatic stars, lifesaving demos, canoe tilting, clown diving and alligator wrestling by Harold Williams and a 10-foot gator.”

The celebration also included “Pee-wee the circus clown and his dog Rex, the University of Florida swim team, and demos. They also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the discovery of phosphate. There was lunch, soft drink stands, facilities for dancing, and free admission and parking.”

McKnight notes that Seminole Falls, the second tallest of the three, was created later that year by using soil dredged from nearby phosphate pits. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that Aviary Falls came about.

“Aviary Falls was once in the bird habitat/flight cage filled with exotic birds like toucans and peacocks, which was the world’s tallest aviary at the time,” McKnight offers. “And visitors were able to get close up with the birds by going for a ride on the Forest Flight Monorail, which was used to transport them through the park at tree level.”

Walking the waterfalls trail on a recent day, McKnight says she finds that the park is “one of the most amazing

Historic photos courtesy of the Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park

places. This park is unique because this spring consists of at least 87 known vents. There are all different crevasses from here to a mile and half down the river, and we are an aquatic preserve.”

A portion of the headsprings is designated for swimming and vessels such as kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards can come upriver and maneuver around the roped off swimming area. Tubing is a popular activity on the Rainbow River and there are two options available, for a two-hour float or a four-hour excursion.

McKnight says the Friends group saw a significant decline in volunteers “once COVID hit. But we are starting to see more volunteers,” she adds.

Coming around the corner to approach Rainbow Falls, McKnight encounters two plein air painters—Sharon Crute and Renee St. Leger.

“You’ve really made improvements,” Crute offers.

“We really are trying to save the natural and cultural resources,” McKnight says to the painters. “People who have lived here forever have so many treasured memories here. They come here and bring pictures and it’s neat to see historical pictures of their grandfather in front of the waterfall or they spent their honeymoon here when we had little cottages. It’s an amazing place and you capturing the spirit and beauty of it is amazing.”

“This could take us all day,” St. Leger responds, dabbing a brush on her canvas.

Continuing the trek to view the falls, McKnight offers, “This used to be the town of Juliette in the 1800s. They had the Blue Hotel at the headsprings, had a gazebo where they danced every night. The rooms were $2 apiece and it was $1 for a boat ride. In the 1800s’ they had phosphate pits and when you take the two-mile hike, you will see remnants of two phosphate

pits and all of this is made from the phosphate pilings. They had a railroad that came through there, they had a store, a post office… all that went away when the boom of the phosphate went away.”

Archaeological evidence indicates people have been using Rainbow Springs for nearly 10,000 years. At one time, mastodon and mammoth fossils were found in the Rainbow River, along with relics of Native Americans who used the river for transportation and fishing.

The Rainbow River and Rainbow Springs were recognized by the state when the system was designated an aquatic preserve in 1986 and an Outstanding Florida Water in 1987. In 1972, Rainbow Springs was designated a Registered Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service.

“Our springs have been referred to as ‘liquid bowls of light.’ When you visit Rainbow Springs, you never leave unchanged,” says Aquatic Preserve Manager Jeff Sowards.

The park is located at 10830 SW 180th Avenue Road, Dunnellon. The headsprings site is open 8am to sunset 365 days a year. Admission is $2 per person (free for ages 5 and younger). There are additional fees for activities such as vessel rental, tubing and camping. The park offers a concession stand, pavilions and restrooms.

Whether you visit Rainbow Springs State Park to walk, hike, swim, paddle, picnic or just sit in quiet contemplation, you are sure to find nature in all its splendor.

However, McKnight points out with obvious pride, “It just wasn’t the same without the waterfalls. People just didn’t get the peaceful feeling that the waterfalls bring.”

To learn more, visit floridastateparks.org/parks-andtrails/rainbow-springs-state-park and friendsofrainbowsprings.org

Clockwise from top left: Stasha McKnight of the Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park; Waterfall at Rainbow Springs State Park; The main spring at Rainbow Springs State Park; Canoeing at the park

Driveable Destinations: Dunedin

With two state parks, links to Scottish history and a spot on a best small town in the South list, this Florida gem sparkles with possibilities.

By Lisa McGinnes | Photos Courtesy of Visit Dunedin Florida

Though it’s often referred to as “the home of Honeymoon Island,” Dunedin is much more than the gateway to Florida’s most-visited state park. With a lively downtown, vibrant arts scene and plenty of parks, this charming waterfront community was named No. 39 of Southern Living’s Best Small Towns in the South 2023

About a million people live in Florida’s most densely populated county, Pinellas, but only 37,000 of them live in Dunedin, a two-hour drive from Ocala—perfect for a day trip or overnight getaway.

Famous Firsts

Much smaller than its better-known neighbors Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Dunedin was the home of the county’s first radio station, which went on the air in December 1925 from its studio atop the brand-new, three-story Fenway Hotel.

In 1937, Dunedin resident B.C. Skinner pioneered a new product featuring Florida citrus: Orange juice concentrate. Canned at the Dunedin Concentrate Plant, it was shipped overseas during World War II to provide much-needed vitamins and

a taste of home for Allied soldiers.

A product developed by another Dunedin resident played an even more important role in the Second World War. Originally designed for civil rescue work in swampy regions, Donald Roebling’s amphibious Alligator tank was used as a landing craft by U.S. Marines at Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal.

For more local history, stop by the Dunedin History Museum, located in the town’s former railroad depot, to view historical exhibits and sign up for the popular downtown walking tour.

Island Hopping

There’s a reason more than a million people a year cross the Dunedin Causeway just north of downtown to visit Honeymoon Island State Park: With four miles of pristine white-sand beach along the crystal clear Gulf of Mexico, it’s a paradise for shelling, swimming and birdwatching and features a dog-friendly beach.

The island got its name in the 1930s when the owner built 50 honeymoon cabins. It has been a state park since 1981.

Before the devastating Tampa Bay hurricane of 1921, Honeymoon and Caledesi Islands were joined and known as Hog Island. The two are now separated by Hurricane Pass and Caledesi is accessible only by boat. Take the ferry from Honeymoon Island to explore the unspoiled Caledesi Island State Park, which boasts white sandy beaches on the Gulf side and a kayak trail through the mangrove forest on the bay side.

Hallmark Holiday

If you enjoyed the Hallmark Channel’s A Taste of Love, which debuted in February, you can retrace the steps of actors Erin Cahill and Jesse Kove, who filmed the entire movie on location in and around Dunedin. The restaurant owned by the main character’s family is real-life Sea Sea Riders, a local favorite for seafood for three decades. Located in a 1903 Key West-inspired Cracker cottage, it offers indoor dining plus seating on the expansive porch. The movie characters also visit the cozy scratch-kitchen Wild Iris Café, a delicious option for breakfast and lunch, and the “Grand Lady

Clockwise from top left: Dunedin History Museum; Historic Andrews Memorial Chapel; Downtown Dunedin.

of Dunedin,” the historic Fenway Hotel. You also might recognize Edgewater Park, with its canopy of trees bordering the marina.

Festival Fun

Usually laid back, this town loves to party! Home of Florida’s largest St. Patrick’s Day festival, Main Street shuts down for the annual street party going strong after more than 30 years. Presented by Flanagan’s Irish Pub, the celebration includes live music, brews and food with vendors set up in Pioneer Park.

Early Scottish settlers named the town after the Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of their native country, and Dunedin proudly celebrates its heritage. On April 6th, the Dunedin Scottish Arts Foundation will host the 56th annual Dunedin Highland Games and Festival, which features bagpiping, drumming and dancing competitions as well as traditional test-of-strength games such as hammer throwing and shot putting. Attendees also enjoy Scottish storytelling and sheepdog demonstrations.

The highlight of this year’s sixth annual Dunedin International Film Festival, held in February, was a special screening of A Taste of Love two weeks before it debuted on the Hallmark Channel, plus a panel discussion with father-and-son actors Martin and Jesse Kove. The four-day event included dozens of screenings, from local shorts to documentaries to feature films from around the globe.

Public Art

As you explore downtown, be on the lookout for a diverse array of art installations—from the more than 1,000 local pets featured in the Dogedin mural just off Main Street to the postcard-perfect selfie spot by the marina to the colorful 6-foot painted dolphin statues, part of the Clearwater Dolphin Trail. Two of the most unique 3D pieces are located at the old train depot: The bas relief Railroading in Dunedin and the three life-sized bronze statues out front, named All Aboard, featuring a Jazz Age-era woman and her young daughter, clutching her teddy bear, hurrying toward the waiting train conductor.

Chews, Brews and Views

Sunsets over St. Joseph Sound are spectacular and are perhaps best enjoyed relaxing with fine food and drink. Reserve a table at Bon Appetit Restaurant to dine al fresco and savor French favorites and seafood specialties while taking in the panoramic view from the pier. Or stop by the Hi-Fi Rooftop Bar at the Fenway Hotel for the daily sunset celebration to sip crafted cocktails, such as the Fenway Sunset, against a palm tree-framed backdrop of vivid colors on the horizon. Create a custom pub crawl with eight craft breweries located within a one-mile radius. Start at Dunedin Brewery, founded in 1996 and the oldest distributing microbrewery in Florida, and make your way to the expansive HOB Brewery, facing the Pinellas Trail, where you’ll find 50 taps and two pet-friendly patios.

Hit the Trail

The 75-mile Pinellas Trail is a protected greenspace for walking, jogging, skating and biking located along a former railroad corridor. The trail bisects Main Street in the heart of the downtown dining and shopping district. Get some fresh air as you stroll through

neighborhood and wooded sections or rent a bicycle from one of the many outfitters. If you stay at the Fenway Hotel, just a few blocks from the trail, guests receive complimentary rental of on-site bikes.

Just over a mile north of downtown, the trail connects to Hammock Park with its butterfly garden, majestic oaks and disc golf course. For a longer bike ride, head north for another eight miles to the quaint community of Tarpon Springs, known for its Greek eateries and sponge docks.

When you return to downtown, treat yourself to a scoop of Strachan’s Homemade Ice Cream, located just a block from the trail, or a fresh-squeezed or frozen lemonade from Lane’s Lemonade in the trailside red caboose.

Relax and Stay Awhile

Just a half-mile from the downtown pier, the historic 1920s Fenway Hotel perches above an expansive front lawn facing St. Joseph Sound. Decorative musical touches celebrate its Jazz Age roots and visitors enjoy live music on the lobby stage each evening and at jazzy Sunday brunches in the HEW Parlor & Chophouse restaurant. Relax on the shady front veranda overlooking the water or take a dip in the courtyard pool.

Be sure to check out the alcove just off the lobby that preserves the entrance to the secret basement Prohibition speak-easy—complete with historic black-and-white photographs—and the rotating collection of artifacts and photos on loan from the Dunedin History Museum.

To learn more, go to visitdunedinfl.com

From top: Fenway Hotel, photo courtesy of Fenway Hotel; All Aboard statue; Pinellas Trail; Bon Appetit restaurant; nighttime entertainmen

Area Adventures

You

don’t have to leave Ocala/Marion County to find exciting things to do.

By Susan Smiley-Height

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “adventure” as an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks, the encountering of risks (a spirit of adventure), an exciting or remarkable experience or an enterprise involving financial risk.

Someone who is “adventurous” is said to be disposed to coping with the new and unknown (exploring), is innovative (artistic style) and is characterized by unknown dangers and risks (undertakes an adventurous journey).

It’s fun to be adventurous sometimes, like on January 1st, 2022, when I did a tandem

David Stevens, courtesy of Ryan Woodall

sky dive with Central Florida Skydiving, based out of the Marion County Airport near Dunnellon. Once my initial screaming subsided, I had a wonderful “float” with Donnie Hickey, the drop zone owner and a veteran sky diver. You can find the article and photos at ocalastyle.com/high-dive

If that’s not your cup of adventure, there are many other things to do in Ocala and Marion County that might be thrilling, chilling or just plain fun. One of the current hot trends, according to a tip we received from our longtime contributing photographer John Jernigan, an avid outdoor hiking, biking and running enthusiast, is gravel biking in the Ocala National Forest.

Gravel biking, according to bicycling.com, “has a broad definition—generally, any terrain between the steep, rocky inclines of mountain biking, and the smooth asphalt of road biking. In practice, it translates to gorgeous scenery, pleasantly challenging conditions, and no cars. Combined with advances in bike technology, gravel’s decades-long explosion of popularity makes sense. One person might imagine quiet, slightly crunchy roads. Another may see challenging, steep, crateredout, boulder-pocked trails.”

There is even a Florida Gravel Biking club that you can find online and through social media.

Locally, according to Jernigan, the guy who knows the most about adventure biking is Ryan Woodall, the local owner of Top Gear Bicycles. Woodall has won many state, regional and national level awards, most recently the 2023 Elite Men’s Florida State Cross Country Mountain Bike Championship. We did a quick Q&A with him to hear what he has to say about this trend.

What is “gravel” Biking?

On the surface, gravel cycling looks so much like traditional road cycling on gravel roads, but there truly is more to it. “Gravel” is one of the easiest genres of cycling to participate in. Being largely separated from vehicle traffic, gravel cycling is safer than road cycling. Requiring less technique than mountain biking, gravel cycling offers a more comfortable “off road” experience to newcomers. The common denominator between all gravel cyclists is the sense of adventure.

Where did it start?

Although cyclists have long enjoyed riding on gravel roads, gravel cycling as a sport didn’t really come around until the mid-2000’s, with its roots in the midwestern states. By 2018, most bicycle brands were offering gravel bikes and the new American cycling sensation was “gravel.”

Who is doing it locally?

There are a lot of people out there riding, but mostly still in very small groups. I enjoy gravel riding very much. I love the sense of exploration, whether I’m 2 miles from my house on a single lane dirt road or in the middle of the forest on a 100-mile adventure ride.

Left photo, courtesy of Ryan Woodall; Right photo by Dave Miller

Ryan and Darla Woodall

Do you need special permission?

The Ocala National Forest is open for you to explore. No special permission or permitting is required to enjoy the gravel roads of the ONF, but carrying your ID with you is always recommended in case of an emergency.

Are there other gravel Biking hotspots?

The Ocala National Forest is a great place to explore, but there are a few other preserves to check out as well. Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area, Halpata Tastanaki Nature Preserve and Ocklawaha Prairie Restoration Area are some of my favorites. I love riding my gravel bike somewhere I haven’t been before.

What are other adventurous things to do in Marion County?

When my schedule allows, I really enjoy freshwater fishing, so I would say grab a fishing pole and head to the nearest body of water. There are several places to fish in Marion County that don’t require a boat. If you done so haven’t yet, you should kayak the crystal-clear waters of the Silver River or the Rainbow River.

Here are a few other adventurous options locally, both low-key and scream-worthy:

Santos Trailhead & Campground (and more)

Santos includes more than 80 miles of bike trails for beginners and expert-level trails that will challenge seasoned riders. Rated as one of the best mountain bike venues in the U.S. and even internationally, the trails are maintained through a partnership with the volunteer-based Ocala Mountain Bike Association.

Top photo, courtesy The Canyons Zipline and Adventure Park; Bottom photo, by Dave Miller

Numerous wooden features and the Vortex Freeride area located in a former lime rock quarry provide extreme terrain. The trailhead and campground are just west off U.S. Highway 441 on Southeast 80th Street between Ocala and Belleview.

The Santos Trailhead also offers access to the Cross Florida Greenway’s equestrian trail network, with more than 60 miles of horse trails and wagon/carriage opportunities. The Florida National Scenic Trail for hiking runs west to Dunnellon from Santos for approximately 24 miles and east for over 10 miles before entering the Ocala National Forest.

floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/santos-trailhead-campground

Central Florida Skydiving

The team here is focused on safety first. You can do a tandem jump like I did, where you experience the thrill of freefall (the part where you scream like a banshee) and the breath-taking beauty of canopy flight. Like Donnie Hickey, the drop zone owner says, “Your bucket list is my weekend.” They also offer training to become an “A” licensed skydiver and even night jumps for USPA “B” license holders and above. centralfloridaskydiving.com

The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park

The offerings here range from a package that offers nine zip lines through Big Cliff Canyon, zips up to 1,100 feet long, two sky bridges and a rappel, to less involved options. I’ve done the nine-line and it’s a hoot (literally, as you will become vocal at various points). There are even some nighttime zip opportunities. You also can go horseback riding, mine for gems and kayak on Lost Spring Lake. zipthecanyons.com

Courtesy Central Florida Skydiving

Susan Smiley-Height and Donnie Hickey

Trail Rides on HorseBack

This is the Horse Capital of the World, so horseback riding has be on the list of adventurous outings in these parts. Mention horseback riding to just about anyone locally and the first name to pop up will most likely be Cactus Jack’s Trail Rides. This is the designated State of Florida horseback riding provider for the Cross Florida Greenway at the Land Bridge Trailhead. Guided rides are available for those older than age 6, for individuals, families and groups.

ocalamarion.com/things-to-do/equestrian/horseback-riding-trails

Kayaking

Kayaking may seem like a serene pursuit, until you encounter a huge alligator or a Rhesus monkey that scowls at you from nearby treetops. I have kayaked the Silver River and Rainbow River, and both showcase native Florida at its very best. The Silver River, which merges into the Ocklawaha River, offers numerous sightings of wildlife, including gators and monkeys (most of the time) and even manatees (sometimes). The Rainbow River, which merges with the Withlacoochee near downtown Dunnellon, is a gorgeous slow-moving waterway that tantalizes with its clear views of fish, turtles and river otters. This also is a very popular river for stand-up paddleboarding. There are also beautifully scenic paddles to be found at the Juniper, Silver Glen and Salt Springs parks in the Ocala National Forest. ocalamarion.com/blog/top-5-natural-wonders-for-canoers-kayakers

Top photo, by Bruce Ackerman; Bottom photo, by Dave Miller

Ashley Lee leads a ride at Cactus Jack’s

Adventurous Eating

Preparing meals with fresh-caught seafood can be both satisfying and delicious.

By Jill Paglia

by John Jernigan

Ispend a lot of time with my professional fi shing team in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean each spring and summer. Last summer, we ventured over to Bimini for a few days, and I discovered it is the place to get a fresh Conch Salad.

Imagine a big old shack sitting atop pylons over the aqua blue water while stingrays swim around a literal “island” of stacked conch shells. The people are very friendly and appreciative of their customers. Dining there is so simple, kind of like going back in time.

When I am in the Keys, I can purchase conch at the local farmer’s market and make my own version of this delicious salad, but that’s not so easy to do in Ocala. So, for this issue, I made Shrimp Ceviche instead. It is loaded with fl avor and brilliant colors and is so healthy and delicious.

My Southern Blackfi n Tuna Salad is made

with tuna caught by our fi shing team and canned in the Keys. We fi nd tuna at about 300 to 400 feet deep. Just imagine bringing up 18 to 25 pounds of fi sh from that depth. Captain Chris cans the tuna with assorted olive oils to give it a unique fl avor. Nothing beats a hot day on the water better than an ice-cold tuna wrap for lunch. And it’s so satisfying knowing you caught it and that it was quickly preserved for the future.

For an entrée, the Baked Alaska Queen or Red Snapper is easy to make and is very tasty. These also are deep-water fish, which you catch from 900 to 1,200 feet below the surface.

Whatever we are fi shing for, it’s always a great day when we’re on the water with family and friends.

Wherever life leads you this summer, I wish you adventures that give you memories to refl ect on for many years to come.

Clockwise from left: Photos courtsey of Jill Paglia

Shrimp Ceviche

1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 yellow bell pepper, diced

1 red onion, diced

2 tomatoes, diced

1 small bunch cilantro, chopped

8 ounces fresh lime juice

8 ounces fresh pineapple juice

8 ounces sweet Thai chili sauce

Thinly sliced jalapeño

Tortilla chips

Lime wedges

Boil the shrimp for 3 minutes and then plunge them into an ice bath. > Seed and dice all of the vegetables so they are the same size. > In a large bowl, mix the fruit juices together and add the vegetables and cilantro. > Remove the shrimp from ice bath and either leave them whole or dice them to the size you prefer. > Add the shrimp to the bowl and combine all the ingredients. > Cover and refrigerate. > To serve, divide the ceviche into bowls and top with slices of jalapeño to taste and a squeeze of fresh lime. > Serve the tortilla chips on the side.

Southern Blackfin Tuna Salad

20 ounces freshly canned tuna (or your favorite brand)

1 cup mayonnaise or less, to taste

1/3 cup celery, finely chopped

3 tablespoons carrot, finely chopped

2 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped

2 tablespoons scallion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons sweet or dill pickle relish

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 clove garlic, minced

Salt and fresh ground pepper

In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, mayonnaise, celery, onion, relish, lemon juice and garlic. > Season to taste with salt and pepper. > Serve immediately or cover and chill until serving (makes great sandwiches or a canape).

Baked Alaska Queen or Red Snapper

2 fish fillets, 1 inch thick, about 8 ounces each

1 tablespoon water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1⁄4 cup sour cream

1⁄4 cup mayonnaise

1⁄4 cup scallion, sliced

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1⁄4 teaspoon salt

1⁄8 teaspoon ground red pepper

1⁄4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded Salt and pepper

Cut the fish in half to make four servings. > Mix 1 teaspoon of water and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and brush on both sides of the fish. > Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. > Arrange the fish in a lightly greased 11-by-7-by-1/2-inch baking dish. > Bake uncovered at 450 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. > While the fish is cooking, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, green onions, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of ground red pepper. > Once the fish flakes easily, spoon the sour cream mixture evenly over the top of each piece. > Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top. > Bake, uncovered, for an additional three to four minutes or until the cheese melts and the sauce is thoroughly heated. > Serve immediately.

HUGS and Hope

By Susan Smiley-Height | Photos by Bruce Ackerman

On the evening of February 22nd, beneath the lights and stars in downtown Ocala, the annual HUGS (Heartfelt Unconditional Giving) Charities of Ocala fundraiser was all about, well, the hugs—and securing donations to help more people. The 14th annual event took place at the Bank Street Patio Bar & Grill, which offers spacious outside areas for social gatherings.

HUGS Charities works with the Cancer Alliance of Marion County to help people with cancer and each year’s fundraiser recognizes a cancer survivor or someone who died from the disease.

The most recent honoree was Rusty Branson, regional president of SouthState Bank. He also is involved with a number of local organizations and sits on many local boards, but notes that he is “not directly involved with HUGS other than being a multiyear donor to the organization.”

Branson was diagnosed with large B cell lymphoma in June of 2021. He says his treatment consisted of chemotherapy every three weeks, which lasted about four hours per treatment, over

a period of nine months.

“While I was very thankful to have had chemotherapy as it is saving my life, the side effects were like having the worst hangover of your life for seven consecutive days,” he recalls. “But that being said, I had an incredible medical team and family that were there for me 24/7, comforting me along my cancer journey.”

HUGS was formed in 2009 to help Marion County residents who are actively undergoing cancer treatment and are experiencing a financial hardship. Assistance is available to help with needs such as paying for rent and utilities, or filling up the gas tank so patients can get to treatments. The theory is that having the basics covered allows patients and families to focus on cancer treatments and healing.

Michael Koontz, along with Manal Fakhoury, founded the nonprofit after his nephew died of cancer. The goal is to provide immediate temporary relief while helping find long-term financial solutions through collaborative efforts

The annual HUGS Charities fundraiser recognizes a cancer survivor or someone who died from the disease. The most recent honoree was banker Rusty Branson.

Sawyer, Rusty and Ashley Branson

with The Cancer Alliance of Marion County.

The alliance leadership committee consists of representatives from several area agencies, such as the American Cancer Society, Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute, HCA Florida Ocala, AdventHealth Ocala, Tobacco Free Florida Partnership, Hospice of Marion County, Sabal Direct Primary Care, Heart of Florida and We Care, Marion County Medical Society, Langley Health, Department of Health, Crippen and Company, and the Rural Women’s Health Project.

According to material on the HUGS website, the alliance “determined our community has several gaps in the assistance of patients and families facing the diagnosis of this life changing and deadly disease. The creation the of HUGS Patient Assistance Program is spearheaded by a team of dedicated local law enforcement, firefighters and HUGS members who are focused on filling these gaps.”

The nonprofit raises funds for the research, prevention, detection and treatment of all forms of cancer and assists individuals and families whose lives have been affected. HUGS also helps raise awareness about cancer, as well as sources of help and relief. Funding comes primarily through the annual fundraiser and private donations.

This year’s event also honored Langley Health Services, a local nonprofit that has worked to improve education and access to cancer screenings for at-risk Latino and Hispanic women. Approximately 350 people were in attendance. The event included live and silent auctions and raised approximately $60,000 (after expenses) to benefit local cancer patients. In 2023, HUGS distributed approximately $75,181 to cancer patients, with more than 50 percent of those funds helping with gas for medical transportation and groceries.

Branson says that advice he might offer to others diagnosed with cancer would first be to “keep a positive attitude and do not feel sorry for yourself.”

“When you get the news that you have been diagnosed with cancer it is like a punch in the stomach and just takes your breath away,” he shares. “But breathe, and tell yourself each and every day that while this may be a long journey, today is a blessing and today you are going to continue to fight this horrible disease. When you get tired of fighting, rest and let your family, friends and healthcare providers do some of the fighting for you. Cancer is just a word, it is not a sentence, so continue to live your life.”

To learn more, go to hugscharities.org

Employees of SouthState Bank

Mandy Tucker, Leanne Drake, April Fontana and Thomas Fontana

Leo Smith, Barbara Tomyn, George Tomyn and Lois Schwenk

Scientist, inventor to lecture at IHMC

Michael Larson is an educator, inventor and senior research scientist with the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University, a master’s degree at the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But his innate curiosity started well before he achieved such milestones.

By Susan Smiley-Height

“I have always been eager to figure out how things work. A vivid memory of childhood was when I dismantled an incandescent lightbulb and examined the parts before setting about making my own. I got quite the shock, literally and figuratively, when the bottle containing my coiled filament exploded in my hand upon plugging my cord into an outlet,” he shares. “I was the son of a career U. S. Marine, so my family moved around a lot when I was a kid, which fostered the portable activity of mechanism exploration—there was no shortage of things to examine.”

Larson’s first job was analyzing aircraft structures, which “instilled in me a desire to learn more, and I ventured to MIT to earn a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering,” he recalls. “That opened my eyes to how I could do meaningful things in the academic world, and I decided to be a university professor teaching and performing research.”

As a professor at Tulane University and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, he came to know Ken Ford, the founder and CEO of IHMC, “a model for fostering economic development activities between university

researchers and private enterprises.” Larson soon visited IHMC in Pensacola and gave a presentation about a surgical system he invented.

“Along the way, I created other inventions, founded a handful of companies and came to appreciate new avenues whereby I could improve people’s lives through entrepreneurship,” he notes. “Ford facilitated my linking up with some of the super smart research staff at IHMC who share my passion for creating technology solutions to help with sleep, and my more general interests in boosting wellness, health and performance—finding new ways to help people live their best lives.”

On April 25th, Larson will lecture in Ocala on Enhancing Wellness Through Sensory Stimulation: An Application to Better Sleep.

“I plan to discuss a framework for how we can be more innovative in approaching wellness,” he states, “and talk about our work in sleep as an example of using the natural senses in intentional ways to bring about positive changes in how our bodies perform.”

The lecture will take place at 15 SE Osceola Ave., beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m.

To learn more and RSVP, go to ihmc.us/life/evening_lectures/ocala-lecture-series

To see a video about how Larson helped one of his daughters with a sleep challenge, go to webmd.com/ sleep-disorders/narcolepsy-perspectives-20/videonarcolepsy-invention-sleep-tones

Michael Larson will discuss Enhancing Wellness Through Sensory Stimulation: An Application to Better Sleep in Ocala on April 25th.

Photo courtesy of Michael Larson

some, feeling

LEFT OUT

LEFT OUT

LEFT OUT

LEFT OUT

LEFT OUT

for some, feeling lasts more than a moment.

for some, feeling lasts more than a moment.

LEFT OUT

LEFT OUT

LEFT OUT

We can change that.

for some, feeling lasts more than a moment.

more than a moment. We can change that.

LEFT OUT

for some, feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that.

can change that.

Learn how at BelongingBeginsWithUs.org

for some, feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that.

for some, feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that.

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt we didn’t belong. But for people who moved to this country, that feeling lasts more than a moment. Together, we can build a better community.

for some, feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that.

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt we didn’t belong. But for people who moved to this country, that feeling lasts more than a moment. Together, we can build a better community.

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt we didn’t belong. But for people who moved to this country, that feeling lasts more than a moment. Together, we can build a better community. Learn how at BelongingBeginsWithUs.org

We can change that.

Learn how at BelongingBeginsWithUs.org

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt we didn’t belong. But for people who moved to this country, that feeling lasts more than a moment. Together, we can build a better community.

Learn how at BelongingBeginsWithUs.org

for some, feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that.

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt we didn’t belong. But for people who moved to this country, that feeling lasts more than a moment. Together, we can build a better community.

had moments where we’ve felt we didn’t belong. But who moved to this country, that feeling lasts more moment. Together, we can build a better community. at BelongingBeginsWithUs.org

Learn how at BelongingBeginsWithUs.org

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt we didn’t belong. But for people who moved to this country, that feeling lasts more than a moment. Together, we can build a better community.

Where you can all vacation

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt we didn’t belong. But for people who moved to this country, that feeling lasts more than a moment. Together, we can build a better community.

Learn how at BelongingBeginsWithUs.org

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt we didn’t belong. But for people who moved to this country, that feeling lasts more than a moment. Together, we can build a better community.

Learn how at BelongingBeginsWithUs.org

Learn how at BelongingBeginsWithUs.org

Half-day

Art and music

As an artist, I was privileged to serve on the Marion Cultural Alliance board.

I have seen the cultural arts explode here. The Reilly Arts Center, new galleries and a diverse music scene make Ocala a special place.

2

Special shops Agapanthus and the Gallery on Magnolia always have just the thing I am looking for and the owners are wonderful people.

3 1

Crystal Fernung

SHARES THE THINGS SHE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

Crystal loves to cook and is an artist and equine enthusiast. With her husband, Brent, she helped develop Journeyman Bloodstock Services/Journeyman Stud 48 years ago. “We started as grooms at Lasater Farm in Ocala in 1976. With lots of hard work, we have had some wonderful success stories and now stand Khozan, the leading sire in Florida every year since 2020.”

My hairdresser Becky McQuade with Hello Gorgeous Salon all women will understand this one.

Downtown eateries

The food is exceptional at La Cuisine and Stella’s Modern Pantry, and they make you feel like family.

I worked at The Gourmet Fox in the ‘80s, so I appreciate the hard work that makes a restaurant successful.

4 5

Family

Brent is my rock and best friend. Our daughter Casey, her husband, Garrett, and our granddaughter, Magdalena “Maggie” Belle, 2, named after Brent’s mother, are blessings in my life.

Count Your Bugs

UF/IFAS Extension Marion County is encouraging area residents to take part in the Great Florida Pollinator Census.

By Belea T. Keeney

Think of a lazy day in your garden, camped out in a comfortable chair in front of some flowers while admiring the colors, enjoying the warm breeze and counting, wait for it—insects. Specifically, pollinators.

The Great Florida Pollinator Census is coming and UF/IFAS Extension Marion County, a partnership of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and the University of Florida, is encouraging local residents to participate.

And, the UF/IFAS Marion County Master Gardeners will, for the first time, be part of the bug count. The program is a partnership with the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, which was started by

such as butterfl ies, moths, bees, wasps, fl ies and even mosquitos.

Jeremy Rhoden, the Great Florida Pollinator Census director, also is the Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator and Urban & Residential Horticulture Agent for our area. He reminds us of the many benefits of insects, specifically pollinators.

“One of every three bites of food that we eat is dependent on pollinators,” Rhoden explains. “Pollinators are declining rapidly. We have to do what we can to sustain their population and, if possible, increase their populations.”

Pollinators move from plant to plant carrying pollen on their legs, wings or bodies and deposit

group of potted plants on a patio or a small corner of a courtyard, can attract and help pollinators.

“Microhabitats are certainly sufficient and have been found to be very advantageous” to your local pollinators, Rhoden notes. “It can be as big or small as you like. Just having a few potted plants or hanging baskets with floral resources is great.”

Rhoden also reminds us that pollinators benefit not only from flowers and nectar sources, but also host plants for the larval stages of life, something the babies can eat when they come out of their cocoons.

“A lot of these plants aren’t necessarily blooming plants, but foliage plants, like for caterpillars,” Rhoden offers. “Milkweed is the one associated with monarch caterpillars. Passionvine is another one that works well and grows beautiful purple flowers. Even citrus trees can host larvae and be great pollinator plants.”

Although it can be alarming to see a plant getting eaten by caterpillars, don’t worry, says Rhoden.

“Those plants have adapted over time to withstand being defoliated by pollinators,” he states. “You’ll find your milkweed will be stripped all the way to the ground but it’s crazy how fast it will come back and be fuller than before.”

One tactic to use for your caterpillar garden is to site them where the not-so-pretty leaf damage won’t be too visible. Understand, too, that some host plants are, well, not always pretty. And group plants in clumps, rather than just single plants.

Rhoden says he enjoys all the pollinators and says it’s not just bees and butterflies.

“I love so many of them. Bumblebees, of course,” he affirms. “Sweat bees are really cool. They’re solitary and are a metallic green and it’s a real treat to see them in the garden. They’re like a jewel flying around in your flowers. Beetles, flies, mosquitos, birds, bats and moths are big contributors” to pollination, he adds, saying that moths do their work overnight, usually unseen. “They all benefit plants, people and society in some way.”

One goal of the Pollinator Census is to help researchers through citizen science. For example, “the zebra longwing butterfly (heliconius charithonia), our state butterfly, was only believed to fly as far north as Valdosta, Georgia, but citizens have reported sighting this butterfly as far north into the Blue Ridge Mountains,” notes an extension service information release.

To learn how to participate in the census and report your findings, email jeremy.k.rhoden@ufl.edu.

For more information, visit FB.com/ marioncountymastergardeners and ifas.ufl.edu

A native Floridian and lifelong gardener, Belea spends her time off fostering cats and collecting caladiums. You can send gardening questions or column suggestions to her at belea@magnoliamediaco.com

Opposite page: Photo by Cristina Carrizosa, University of Florida; This page: Top photo by Tyler Jones, University of Florida; Middle photo by James Castner, University of Florida

Gulf fritillary Oleander moth

Sweat bee

Remembering Ross Allen

The Ross Allen Reptile Institute was long a major attraction at Silver Springs and later included a research lab.

By Scott Mitchell | Photos courtesy Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center

In the days before modern theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, Silver Springs was one of the most popular attractions in the country. Starting in 1924, families from near and far would make annual pilgrimages to Florida to ride glass-bottom boats, view wildlife and have a photograph taken with the iconic spring in the background.

While there were multiple concessions located at Silver Springs, the Ross Allen Reptile Institute was one of the main attractions. Although watching someone handle live snakes and alligators may be considered mundane by today’s

entertainment standards, in the era before special effects and high-speed roller coasters, a reptile show was exciting stuff.

Ross Allen was not born in the southern swamps but it did not take long for him to fi nd his calling aft er his family moved to Florida. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1908 and the family moved to Ohio when he was around 10 years old. A real estate boom advertising easy money in the Sunshine State lured the Allen family to Winter Haven in 1924, when Ross was 16.

Those were formative years and he worked

as a lifeguard, earned the rank of Eagle Scout and enrolled in John B. Stetson University (now Stetson University). He attended classes for a single semester, but in 1927 the failing economy caused the family to return to Ohio (Stetson University later awarded Allen an honorary degree for his research in the field of herpetology).

At the age of 21, Allen had seen enough to know he loved the still undeveloped wilds of Florida. He lasted several weeks in Ohio, then moved back to Winter Haven to pursue work with reptiles and taxidermy. His home and workshop included an outbuilding for taxidermy work and reptile research and a fenced lot. It seemed he had found his place but after several alligators escaped into the surrounding neighborhood, city officials requested that he change his business or relocate.

By this time Allen had struck up a friendship with Newt Perry, who worked at Silver Springs. Allen and Perry had both been lifeguards and were excellent swimmers. By 1929, Allen had moved to establish his dream business, the Ross Allen Reptile Institute at Silver Springs. Shortly afterward, Allen also assumed management of the adjacent Seminole tourist camp. That merger was reported to be the result of a dispute between the Seminole families and the former proprietor Charles Metzger.

As tourism at Silver Springs grew in the following years, the reptile institute expanded as well. Carl Ray Sr. and W.M. “Shorty” Davidson, who ran the operation, were skilled promoters and by the mid-1930s, Silver Springs was a major tourist attraction. By 1935, the reptile institute featured a new pioneer-style log cabin that served as both an entrance and lucrative gift shop. Allen’s attractions at Silver Springs had grown to include a research lab, live reptile shows, both storefront and mail order sales departments and an active Seminole tourist camp.

During these years, Allen was a busy man. He was married several times, founded the International Crocodile Society and served as the first president, appeared in short films and newsreel clips, worked as a stuntman and reptile handler for movies that were filmed at Silver Springs, hosted “camporees” for countless Boys Scouts and demonstrated how to extract venom from snakes to create antivenin.

The sales of live snakes, meat and skins generated income and Allen was known by many to offer top dollar for reptiles. While some herpetologists now look back with a critical eye at this past commercialization, Allen had no way of knowing how badly some species would decline in the coming years (mainly due habitat destruction and indiscriminate killing by people).

In 1962, Ray and Davidson sold their holdings to ABC-Paramount with the agreement that

proprietors like Allen would stay on. He remained active at Silver Springs until 1975, when he left to pursue new ventures. He presented reptile talks at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine for a short time then began plans for a new attraction called Alligator Town in Lake City. Sadly, Allen fell ill and passed away in 1981, only a month before the attraction was set to open. He was 73 years old.

A glimpse into Ross Allen’s legacy can be found on display at the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center, which is open to the public from 10am to 4pm every Saturday and Sunday.

Scott Mitchell is a field archaeologist, scientific illustrator and director of the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center at 1445 NE 58th Avenue, inside Silver Springs State Park. To learn more, go to silverrivermuseum.com.

You good?

Learning to Love Slowcala

By Dave Schlenker | Illustration by David Vallejo

My wife, Amy, and I love to walk Rigby Floyd, our Golden Doodle named for a Beatles song and a Muppet. One morning, we bumped into friends who live on the other side of the neighborhood.

We do not know them very well, but they are exceptionally nice people. Here is a transcript of our conversation (the names have been translated into pig Latin to protect the innocent and misquoted).

Neighbor wife: I think you know our friends IchaelMay and UanneLay. They are in our Bible study.

My wife: We love them! Our daughter knew their kids.

Neighbor husband: You may know EvinKay, then.

Me: Absolutely. My father used to work with his father.

And so it went. Did you know that neighbor is selling their house? Yep, we know them, too. Went to school with her brother. Have you seen that neighbor’s baby walk?

As our cluster started to walk again, we moved over for an approaching SUV.

The car slowed. Windows slid down and, poof, two more friends we have in common stopped to chat. Two dogs and four people orbited the SUV with separate conversations.

Amy, Rigby and I walked home on the same streets our daughters owned on Halloween. These were the streets our beloved late Corgi knew so well. Every corner, every smell, every stick.

These are the streets where neighbors gathered in the post-Irma calm, savoring the eerie silence and realizing it should not take a hurricane for us to gather.

When Amy and I got home, we grabbed water and sunscreen and went kayaking at Silver Springs State Park. Five minutes after launch, two manatees swam by our kayak.

Amy and I paddled over the headspring and laughed about how the I Spy statues at the base of the spring used to freak out our youngest daughter. How many generations of Ocalans have drifted over those statues?

As we paddled down river, more memories surfaced. My family has been here since 1978. Amy was born here. Her father was the agricultural agent. Her mom taught legions of kids who now call Ocala home as adults.

“Hey!” a nearby kayaker bellowed. “Two manatees straight ahead.”

We stopped, fell silent and just watched. One surfaced, his whiskered snoot a few yards away. Breathtaking. Only in Florida.

This is Ocala. Friends are everywhere—and not just friends, but friends from kindergarten or earlier.

Ocala was the town I desperately wanted to escape as a teen. “See ya, Slowcala!” Then I fell in love with my high school crush; we moved back as certified adults and raised a family in a neighborhood where I used to ride my bike.

I now walk these streets with gray in my beard. I step into our yard and think of water balloons, giddy girls on swings, bike rides and birthday parties filled with the children of parents we knew as children.

Our daughters vow to seek bigger cities and brighter lights. But we suspect they will walk their dogs on these streets one day and realize that Slowcala is their home, too.

Rehabilitation and Release

Forest Animal Rescue rehabilitates wild animals that have been injured or orphaned with a goal of returning them to the wild.

By Beth Whitehead | Portraits by Bruce Ackerman

Avonaco was at death’s door when a biologist found him in a sugar cane field in Louisiana, trying to eat the stubble left after the cane had been harvested. The year-old orphaned bear cub was starving, weighed barely 15 pounds and was suffering from pneumonia and multiple badly infected wounds. The biologist walked up to the cub and instead of trying to escape, it crouched down and cried.

Avonaco’s rescuers reached out to the nonprofit Forest Animal Rescue (FAR) in Silver Springs and co-founders Lisa and Kurt Stoner drove halfway to Louisiana to pick up the cub and bring him back to the sanctuary. Avonaco (Cheyenne for “little bear”) was placed in a “human-free” zone and soon started to thrive. Another orphaned cub soon joined Avonaco and together they received the care necessary for them to recover enough to be returned to their habitat in Louisiana.

The Stoners founded FAR, formerly known as Peace River Refuge and Ranch, in 1998 in south Florida with the mission of “meeting the needs of

wild animals in dire situations.”

“We are dedicated to ensuring that wild animals receive the respect they deserve,” Lisa Stoner says. “Wild animals are impacted by humans in many ways, and it is very seldom a positive outcome. We strive to change that.”

FAR is the culmination of a life’s work for the couple, both of whom have extensive backgrounds in caring for wild animals.

As affectionate as they are about all the animals they help, including Avonaco, they would not be rehabilitating wild animals today if not for Zulu. The 25-pound orange tiger cub was slated to be killed by his breeders because he lacked the pure white coat they wanted. When the cub was injured after being kicked by a horse, the Stoners qualified for a permit and took him into their home. With two children, however, they quickly realized that Zulu needed a much larger territory than their spare bedroom. They sold their home and purchased 70 acres to create a sanctuary for Zulu and other animals.

Lisa Stoner

The 501(c)(3) relocated to Marion County in 2013 and no two days there are ever alike, Stoner says.

“Activities range from fielding calls for animals in need and networking to find the closest person to help to releasing animals that are rehabilitated by other facilities on our protected land to cutting trees and maintaining the wild native landscape on properties we own,” she explains.

FAR works with the State of Florida and other states to rehabilitate and care for black bear cubs, being careful to avoid human exposure so the animals can be transferred back into the wild. The rescue stands in the steadily widening gap between decreasing habitat and rehabilitated wildlife. Wildlife rehabilitators strive to take care of injured or orphaned animals and then return them to their original habitat. Due to increasing development, however, the habitat where the animals were recovered from may no longer be a viable drop-off location.

“We work with wildlife rehabilitators throughout the state to provide safe, protected release sites for rehabilitated native animals that cannot go back where they came from,” Stoner says.

Animals cannot be released on public land, so FAR “purchases tracts of land adjoining other large, protected areas of habitat where we can

restore and protect the habitat for release of animals that need a place to go,” she adds.

“We are narrowing our focus to native wildlife and networking to assist captive wildlife,” Stoner outlines. “We no longer provide lifetime care to non-releasable animals at the sanctuary site since the demand for that program slowed. Since we are focused on releasable wildlife, we no longer allow public tours because the animals must remain wild and afraid of humans. Our volunteer programs will be shifting to habitat conservation efforts, since that is needed most.”

Forest Animal Rescue receives funding through online and mail donations and through a few small foundation grants. It does not receive government funding, even when assisting government relocation of animals.

“Our largest project this year,” Stoner says, “is the habitat restoration and management on a new 20-acre parcel we purchased that adjoins the Ocala National Forest in Silver Springs. We are looking forward to the beginning of our multiyear plan for the restoration of this land to support as much native wildlife as possible.”

And, she adds, “In our many years of operation, we have witnessed a steady increase in awareness of the plight that wild animals face in captivity and an understanding of how humans impact the native wildlife around us. We are excited to see that trend.”

To learn more, go to forestanimalrescue.org and find them on Facebook.

Photos courtesy of Forest Animal Rescue

Clockwise from left: Avonaco’s release; Avonaco in rehab enclosure before being released; Eastern spotted skunk released on FAR’s land; Lisa and Kurt Stoner; Zulu

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